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Lituya Glacier

Coordinates: 58°43′25″N 137°29′33″W / 58.72361°N 137.49250°W / 58.72361; -137.49250
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Lituya Glacier
Lituya Glacier
Map showing the location of Lituya Glacier
Map showing the location of Lituya Glacier
TypeTidewater glacier
LocationHoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska, U.S.
Coordinates58°43′25″N 137°29′33″W / 58.72361°N 137.49250°W / 58.72361; -137.49250
Length11 miles (18 km)
TerminusOcean (Lituya Bay)
StatusRetreating

Lituya Glacier is a tidewater glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. Located at 58°43′25″N 137°29′33″W / 58.72361°N 137.49250°W / 58.72361; -137.49250 inside Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, its source is in the Fairweather Range and it feeds into Lituya Bay on the gulf coast of Southeast Alaska.

It is partially responsible for creating the 1958 Lituya Bay megatsunami. The glacier, which has receded over the years, carved Lituya Bay into a unique topographic phenomenon with steep walls, a very deep submerged bottom, and a very narrow entrance to the ocean which created the opportunity for a megatsunami to occur.

The glacier is also the namesake of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry M/V Lituya.

See also

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